New rhythm of life begins in Hòa Bình resettlement area

New houses are gradually being completed in the Tuổng Đồi resettlement area in Hòa Bình Province. — Photo baohoabinh.com.vn

HÒA BÌNH — Roads, electricity, and schools have been completed in the Tuổng Đồi resettlement area in Hòa Bình province to welcome dozens of households who previously lived in areas at high risk of landslides during the rainy season.

Sixty-eight households from Mường Chiềng Commune, Đà Bắc District, are gradually stabilising their lives in this new resettlement area.

Bùi Văn Hường, deputy chairman of Mường Chiềng Commune’s People Committee, said the locality was heavily affected after the floods in late October 2017, with many areas at high risk of landslides, posing a significant threat to the lives of residents, especially in Tuổng Đồi hamlet. 

To ensure the safety of people’s lives and property, Đà Bắc District has implemented the construction of a resettlement area with a total investment of over VNĐ30 billion (US$1.23 million) to relocate households in areas with a high risk of landslides to new residences.

Facing many difficulties during the project implementation, local households were finally allocated land to build their houses earlier this year, Hường told Hòa Bình online newspaper. 

Expressing his excitement when the new house was completed, Hà Văn Xoan, a resident, said: “When the local authority handed over the land for resettlement, we were very excited. Compared to the old place, the conditions here are much better. The infrastructure, including electricity, roads, schools, and water supply, has been adequately invested.”

Bùi Văn Bàn still feels scared every time he remembers when he lived in his old place.

“After the historic flood in 2017, cracks appeared on the slopes of the hills and mountains surrounding the residential areas in Tuổng Đổi hamlet. Many households had to take shelter from the rain at their relatives’ houses. We were very happy when we were allocated land to the new resettlement area.”

According to Hường, in reality, local people face many difficulties. Most residents are poor, and their lives mainly rely on agriculture, with corn as the main crop. 

After the floods at the end of 2017, a significant portion of the agricultural land was washed away, eroded, and even severely landslide-affected. With no land for cultivation, the lives of the people here, already difficult, have become even more challenging.

At first, only a few households agreed to move to the new place and others were still hesitant. 

However, they eventually agreed due to the persuasion and mobilisation efforts of local officials, Hường said.

“A new hamlet has been formed, and we live closely together. Previously, we lived isolated from each other across hillsides and mountains,” said Bùi Văn Thành, a resident in the new resettlement area. 

“A new rhythm of life is beginning in a land of many hardships. Certainly, this year, the people in the Tuổng Đồi resettlement area will celebrate a joyful and warm Lunar New Year.” — VNS